The RFD-TV Finance app is a custom XPression application developed for RFD-TV to generate and display commodity charts and quote tables live in broadcasts. It uses data from barchart.com.

It is split into 2 components: 1 client app and 1 XPression server app. The server app runs on the XPression machine while the client app can be installed elsewhere on the network. The client app is responsible for all communication with the barchart web service.

Finance Client App

The client application can be installed on any machine that will be able to access the XPression machine via a network address. It is responsible for all communication with the barchart internet data service.

Prerequisites

Windows 8, 10, or Windows Server 2012 or greater is recommended.

Microsoft .NET Framework 4.6.1 or greater which can be downloaded from a Microsoft website to suit your version of Windows. This must be the FULL version and not the Client Profile version.

Initial Configuration

The first time you install the application you will need to customize a few settings and preferences.

XPression Server Connection

The client’s remote config settings must match what is set on the XPression server application to enable a successful connection. The server provides support for using either TCP or HTTP protocols. The TCP protocol is recommended.

NOTE: the client app can be run without connecting to the XPression server. Press the Don’t connect button to launch the client app in standalone mode. This allows you to test data access and other client features.

Barchart API Key

To access the data the application requires the use of an api key that will be provided to you by barchart when you subscribe to the service.

The key is set via the File menu - Preferences option. It is the first value displayed at the top of the Preferences window.

No XPression Mode

You can run the client application without connecting to the XPression server. Press the Don’t connect button to launch the client app in standalone mode. You will be able to:

• search for commodities available to you for chart generation

• generate and preview charts with data from barchart

• generate and preview commodity quote table data from barchart

• build playlists of charts and tables to be used in a later session.

• update preferences

Preferences

You can change many of the features of the generated charts with the Preferences window. It is accessed via File menu - Preferences...

NOTE: the changes apply only to charts that are generated after the changes are saved and do not apply to existing charts. The exception to this is the chart preview background which is used in local preview only and is not part of what is displayed in XPression.

Barchart API Key

Without a valid API key you won’t be able to access any data to generate charts or commodity tables.

Chart Size

The chart size here controls the size of the generated chart image. It should match the size of the object in the XPression scene that is used to display the chart.

Search - Exchanges

This list of exchange codes is used to filter the search results. If you remove all exchange codes from this field and save it blank then the search will not be filtered.

The default value of this preference is: CBOT, CBOTM, CME, MGEX, KCBT, WCE

Note that you are ultimately limited by the exchanges that are included in your barchart API license.

Auto-Update

This intraday values displayed on a generated chart scene can be automatically updated just before the graphic is sent to air. This only affects the intraday current value and change. It does not regenerate the chart image.

Create Charts

1. Search for the first symbol by typing it in the search box #1

   1. You can search by typing a name or a symbol

   2. You can click the dropdown arrow on the right of the search box to select from the most recently used list.

2. Click on the item you wish to use. The first item is selected by default.

3. If you want to compare 2 on one chart

   1. click on the Compare checkbox to display it’s checkmark

   2. search for the second by starting to type its name or symbol in the filter box for #2

   3. select the item you wish to use from the filtered list

4. Select a Range

5. Click the Generate Chart button

   1. This will cause the current data to be downloaded and transformed into the corresponding chart

   2. You will see the retrieved data and thumbnail of the chart displayed in the preview section

Preview Generated Chart

When there is a generated chart you can preview it in a larger popup window by clicking on the thumbnail. This preview works with and without a connection to the XPression server. It's purpose is to provide a more detailed preview of the chart and related numbers that were generated and may be used in display since the main thumbnail is limited in its usefulness. The background image can be changed in the Chart Preferences window accessed via File menu. Look for it in the Other Options section.

Display Charts

Once you have generated a chart that you want to display you have a couple ways of managing doing so.

Now

The quickest way to display the chart you last generated is to press the Show button beneath the thumbnail.

Later

If you want to save the chart for display later press the To List button beneath the thumbnail. This will add a copy of it to the end of the active Playlist.

You then trigger it to display from the playlist by clicking the green button. It will turn red and it will be displayed through the XPression system.

Commodity Quote Tables

You can also generate a 5 column chart of commodity quote data.

1. First find the commodity by searching for it in the search box #1 or select from the recently used list.

2. Once you have found and selected the item simply press the Add Table button that appears below the Generate Chart button.

3. A preview window with the data that will be used will be displayed.

4. You can choose to edit the headings and footer values.

5. Then to keep the data for display press the Save All button.

6. The table will be added to the end of the active playlist ready to be sent to air.

Playlists

You can build a playlist of items that you can then save and reload later. To send an item to air from the list simply click on the green light icon.

Save a Playlist

To save the active playlist, press the Save button in the playlist header. This will open a save file dialogue box allowing you to choose the folder and specify a filename for your playlist.

Load a Playlist

To load a saved playlist click the … button in the playlist header. This will open a file open dialogue to allow you to select the saved playlist you want to use.

Once selected the app will read the file and recreate the playlist. Items will initially appear with grey buttons and be disabled. It will then proceed to refresh the data in each of the items. Once each item is ready the button will be changed to green.

Refresh Data in a Playlist Item

To refresh the data in a playlist item - press the refresh button for the item.

Preview Data in a Playlist Item

To view the current data in an item - right-click on it and select the Preview/Edit option. This will open a popup window with the relevant form of data associated with the item.

Copy Items Between Playlists

You can have 2 playlists open at a time. To copy an item from one playlist to the other simply drag the item from one list to the other.

Real Time Commodity Values

There is a commodity values window that displays the values and changes for a list of commodity symbols. This data is automatically refreshed every few seconds when the window is open.

Opening the Real Time Window with Saved Size and Position

To open or reopen the window use the Window menu and click Real Time Window. Note that when you close the real time window it will remember it’s last position and size and automatically apply those settings the next time you open the window.

Editing the Real Time Commodity List

To change the list of commodities you open a secondary Commodity Symbol List window. This window enables you to add, remove and re-order the symbols in the list.

The most convenient way to continuously monitor the upcoming future contract values for a commodity is to add the root of the symbol (Example: ZC for corn) and specify a limit/number. Then the app will lookup the specific symbols (Example: ZCH20) for that commodity and display them.

You can also add specific symbols to the list if you wished by providing the full symbol code. Example: ZWN19.

To re-order the symbols simply drag-n-drop items in the list.

To remove symbols from the list you can select the item by clicking on it and then press the Delete key on the keyboard or you can right-click and select Remove from the popup menu.

Be sure to press the Save button after making the changes you want to keep. Press Cancel to close the window and discard any unsaved changes.

Delete a Real Time Commodity List

In the real time value window click on the Edit button. Then look for the Delete button at the bottom of the Commodity Symbol List. Click the Delete button to remove the list.

Application Logs

You can access the application logs that provide information on the work the app is doing as well as providing additional debugging information when errors occur.

File Access

You can also access the log files in the ProgramData directory which is typically:
C:\ProgramData\Bannister Lake\RFD-TV Finance Client\logs

Help Menu Access

You can read the log via the Help menu. Select the Read Log... option to open the current log file.

Finance XPression App

This app must be installed on the XPression machine.

The server application does not communicate with the barchart web service. Instead it relies on the client app to provide it with all the data it needs to display.

Prerequisites

1. Microsoft .NET Framework 4.6.1 or greater which can be downloaded from a Microsoft website to suit your version of windows. This should be the FULL version and not the Client Profile version.

2. Ross XPression

   1. version appropriate to the build of the app represented by the last number in the version number

      1. Example version 1.1.4983 is built for XPression 9.5 build 4983

Initial Configuration

The first time you install the application you will need to customize a few settings and preferences. The application will remember the settings you used last.

You can use the default ports given or change them if appropriate for your network environment. The server provides support for using either TCP or HTTP protocols. The client app should be configured to use the matching settings when connecting.

After you have made any necessary changes to the configuration press the Start Service button. This will lock your selections. To change them you will have to close and restart the applications.

Server Name or IP Address

This is the address of the server running the XPression Engine on which this server app is installed. It will by default at first run fill in the suggested IP address of the server. The value entered here will be used by the client app to find this machine to connect to it. If you are running both the server and client portions of the application on the same machine you could enter "localhost" as the server name instead of an IP Address.

You can also regenerate the suggested IP address by using the option in the Help menu.

TCP Port

This is the port number to use when connecting via the TCP protocol. It is the recommended protocol to use. You will need to ensure that this port is enabled/open on the server to allow the client machine to connect.

HTTP Port

This is the port number to use when connecting via the HTTP protocol. Use the HTTP protocol in situations where TCP is not a viable option You will need to ensure that this port is enabled/open on the server to allow the client machine to connect. The HTTP protocol is not expected to perform as quickly as the TCP protocol.

Use Secure Connections

If you are having trouble connecting with the secure connections enabled - try disabling it on both the server and the client and see if the connection is then successful.

When using the secure connection option with TCP both client and server must be in the same domain, or mutually trusting domains as it uses Windows Authentication. Using a secure connection option with HTTP would require binding an SSL certificate to the port number used. 

XPression Project File

You will need to identify the correct XPression project to be used. Select the file by browsing for it. Your selection will be remembered when you press the Save button and then used in the future automatically.

Note that the XPression project files should all be stored on the local machine.

Application Logs

You can access the application logs that provide information on the work the app is doing as well as providing additional debugging information when errors occur. 

Help Menu Access

You can read the log via the Help menu. Select the Read Log... option to open the current log file.

File Access

You can also access the log files in the ProgramData directory which is typically:  
C:\ProgramData\Bannister Lake\RFD-TV Finance XPression\logs

Check for Updates

Both of these apps have a feature that enables you to check for and then download available updates. To check if an update is available:

1. Open the Help menu

2. Click on Check for Updates

3. Optionally - if available download the update

   1. Once the download is ready and you’re ready to install the update close the open app and run the downloaded executable.